Abstract: The disclosure describes novel methods and apparatuses for accessing test compression architectures (TCA) in a device using either a parallel or serial access technique. The serial access technique may be controlled by a device tester or by a JTAG controller. Further the disclosure provides an approach to access the TCA of a device when the device exists in a daisy-chain arrangement with other devices, such as in a customer's system. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.

Abstract: An electrical device comprising an integrated circuit (IC) having an uppermost layer that includes landing pads that are distributed throughout one side of the IC.

Abstract: Optimizing carrier mobilities in MOS transistors in CMOS ICs requires forming (100)-oriented silicon regions for NMOS and (110) regions for PMOS. Methods such as amorphization and templated recrystallization (ATR) have disadvantages for fabrication of deep submicron CMOS. This invention is a method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) which has (100) and (110)-oriented regions. The method forms a directly bonded silicon (DSB) layer of (110)-oriented silicon on a (100)-oriented substrate. The DSB layer is removed in the NMOS regions and a (100)-oriented silicon layer is formed by selective epitaxial growth (SEG), using the substrate as the seed layer. NMOS transistors are formed on the SEG layer, while PMOS transistors are formed on the DSB layer. An integrated circuit formed with the inventive method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An all-digital frequency synthesizer architecture is built around a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) that is tuned in response to a digital tuning word (OTW). In exemplary embodiments: (1) a gain characteristic (KDCO) of the digitally controlled oscillator can be determined by observing a digital control word before and after a known change (?fmax) in the oscillating frequency; and (2) a portion (TUNE_TF) of the tuning word can be dithered (1202), and the resultant dithered portion (dkTF) can then be applied to a control input of switchable devices within the digitally controlled oscillator.

Abstract: This invention is an exception priority arbitration unit which prioritizes memory access permission fault and data exception signals according to a fixed hierarchy if received during a same cycle. A CPU memory access permission fault is prioritized above a DMA memory access permission fault of a direct memory access permission fault. Any memory access permission fault is prioritized above a data exception signal. A non-correctable data exception signal is prioritized above a correctable data exception signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor device suitable for use in a pressure sensor is disclosed. A uniformly thin die is provided by chemically etching a back side of a wafer. Piezoelectric elements formed integrally within the die generate electrical signals in response to flexing the die. Conductive leads formed integrally within the die electrically communicate the generated electrical signals to support circuitry formed integrally within the die proximate the piezoelectric elements. In an example embodiment, the piezoresistive elements take the form of silicon resistors formed integrally via doping and diffusion in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. In one application, the die serves as a deformable diaphragm, seated atop an aperture of a threaded pressure sensor housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of reducing speckle in projection of images is provided that includes the elements or features of producing a first image and displacing the first image to produce a second image that will reduce speckle relating to the first image when the first image and the second image are displayed on a display medium.

Abstract: A circuit containing a pair of charge pumps and an active filter receives outputs of a phase frequency detector used in a phase locked loop. The charge pump is implemented using switches and resistors to reduce performance variations due to component mismatches. The loop filter includes a resistor and a capacitor coupled in series, the resistor and the capacitor determining a zero of the transfer function of the loop filter. The charge pump circuit simultaneously injects a first current pulse at a first node of the loop filter and a second current pulse at a second node formed by a junction of the resistor and the capacitor. The polarity of the first current pulse is the opposite of the polarity of the second current pulse. Multiplication of the capacitance of the capacitor is thereby achieved, enabling implementation of the loop filter in integrated circuit form.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method of processing a semiconductor wafer having a peripheral portion includes providing external support structure and restraining radially inward displacement of the wafer peripheral portion with the external support structure.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. There is a circuit assembly with a package substrate and an integrated circuit (IC). The package substrate has a microstrip line, and the IC is secured to the package substrate and is electrically coupled to the microstrip line. A circuit board is also secured to the package substrate. A dielectric waveguide is secured to the circuit board. The dielectric waveguide has a dielectric core that extends into a transition region located between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line, and the microstrip line is configured to form a communication link with the dielectric waveguide.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for using both new and older modulation schemes in PLC networks—thereby supporting legacy systems—are disclosed. In one embodiment, common frames that need to be understood by all nodes to support the network will be sent two or more times using different modulation techniques. For example, all broadcast frames, such as beacon requests, beacons, and route requests may be transmitted once with differential modulation and once with coherent modulation. In one configuration, the beacons with differential modulation may be transmitted in one beacon period, and the beacons with coherent modulation may be transmitted in another beacon period. In another configuration, the differential and coherent beacons for a particular tone mask are transmitted one after the other and before any other tone mask beacon is transmitted.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. There is a circuit assembly with a package substrate and an integrated circuit (IC). The package substrate has a microstrip line, and the IC is secured to the package substrate and is electrically coupled to the microstrip line. A circuit board is also secured to the package substrate. A dielectric waveguide is secured to the circuit board. The dielectric waveguide has a dielectric core that extends into a transition region located between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line, and the microstrip line is configured to form a communication link with the dielectric waveguide.

Abstract: A method for adaptive loop filtering is provided that includes determining a coefficient value for each coefficient position of an adaptive loop filter, applying the adaptive loop filter to at least a portion of a reconstructed picture using the coefficient values, and entropy encoding coefficient values into a compressed bit stream using predetermined short binary codes, wherein the short binary code used depends on the coefficient position of the coefficient value.

Abstract: A system comprises a collet is configured for holding a die surface against the bearing surface and for simultaneously pushing outward on the center region of the die so held.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. There is a circuit assembly with a package substrate and an integrated circuit (IC). The package substrate has a microstrip line, and the IC is secured to the package substrate and is electrically coupled to the microstrip line. A circuit board is also secured to the package substrate. A dielectric waveguide is secured to the circuit board. The dielectric waveguide has a dielectric core that extends into a transition region located between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line, and the microstrip line is configured to form a communication link with the dielectric waveguide.

Abstract: A method for driving a Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) is provided. During a first off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During a first off interval, a timer is started when the back-emf reaches a predetermined threshold, and after a predetermined delay has lapsed following the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval, the LRA is driven over a drive interval having a length and drive strength. A second off interval is entered following the drive interval, and during the second off interval, the back-emf of the LRA is measured. During the second off interval, the timer is stopped when the back-emf reaches the predetermined threshold. The value from the timer that corresponds to the duration between the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the first off interval and the back-emf reaching the predetermined threshold during the second off interval determines the length.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for optimization and re-use of hardware in the implementation of Viterbi and Turbo Decoders using carry save arithmetic. Successful provision for each target application requires that two main issues be confronted. These are: merging the computation of summation terms (a2?b2+c2) with (x2+y2+z2); and (a3+b3?c3) with (x3+y3+z3); implementing an efficient method of computing (a4?b4?c4); and merging this computation with (x4+y4+z4). The invention solves both of these issues and successfully merges the Viterbi instructions with a complete reuse of the hardware that is required for the implementation of Turbo instructions. The hardware required by both classes of instructions is optimized by efficiently employing carry save arithmetic.

Abstract: A CVD showerhead that includes a circular inner showerhead and at least one outer ring showerhead. At least two process gas delivery tubes are coupled to each showerhead. Also, a dual showerhead that includes a circular inner showerhead and at least one outer ring showerhead where each showerhead is coupled to oxygen plus a gas mixture of lead, zirconium, and titanium organometallics. A method of depositing a CVD thin film on a wafer. Also, a method of depositing a PZT thin film on a wafer.

Abstract: A conventional method used for a startup mode for a brushless direct current (DC) motor employed complementary inductive rise times. Specifically, inductive rise times rise times for a driving state and its complementary state were compared to one another such that when the inductive rise times cross a switching point had been reached. This methodology, however, significantly affects the efficiency of the driving torque and power consumption. Here, however, a derivative of the inductive rise time is employed, which can determine the switching event without the need for a use of a complementary state, improving motor performance.

Abstract: To provide an ion implantation device capable of correcting the temperature of the wafer. The ion implantation device of the present invention has: an irradiation means that radiates ions; a retention means that includes a disk 112 that retains at least one wafer W; a thermopile 122 that detects, in a noncontact manner, temperature information for a wafer W retained on disk 112; a cooling medium supply unit that enables heat exchange for a wafer W retained on disk 112; and a control unit that calculates the surface temperature of a wafer W retained on disk 112 based on the temperature information detected by thermopile 122 and that determines whether the calculated surface temperature for the wafer is within a permissible temperature range.